Photographing method and device

ABSTRACT

A photographing method for use in a device includes: monitoring a current time and determining whether the current time reaches a preset shooting time; taking a first picture of an object when it is determined that the current time reaches the preset shooting time; determining a difference between a first image in a preset area of the first picture and a second image in the preset area of a second picture taken at a previous preset shooting time, the preset area corresponding to the object; and saving the first picture if the determined difference is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/CN2014/091424, filed Nov. 18, 2014, which is basedon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201410345814.9,filed Jul. 18, 2014, the entire contents of all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of photographictechnology and, more particularly, to a photographing method and aphotographing device.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, desired pictures may be difficult to take due toconstraints of equipment or operation modes. For example, to takepictures of a blooming and fading process of a flower, multiple picturesmay need to be taken at certain times, and a status of the flower duringanthesis, florescence, and fading may also vary. As a result, desiredpictures may be missed due to a long shooting interval, and undesiredpictures with inconspicuous or no change may be taken due to a shortshooting interval.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda photographing method for use in a device, comprising: monitoring acurrent time and determining whether the current time reaches a presetshooting time; taking a first picture of an object when it is determinedthat the current time reaches the preset shooting time; determining adifference between a first image in a preset area of the first pictureand a second image in the preset area of a second picture taken at aprevious preset shooting time, the preset area corresponding to theobject; and saving the first picture if the determined difference isequal to or greater than a preset threshold value.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a device, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storinginstructions executable by the processor; wherein the processor isconfigured to: monitor a current time and determine whether the currenttime reaches a preset shooting time; take a first picture of an objectwhen it is determined that the current time reaches the preset shootingtime; determine a difference between a first image in a preset area ofthe first picture and a second image in the preset area of a secondpicture taken at a previous preset shooting time, the preset areacorresponding to the object; and save the first picture if thedetermined difference is equal to or greater than a preset thresholdvalue.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereininstructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause thedevice to perform a photographing method, the method comprising:monitoring a current time and determining if the current time reaches apreset shooting time; taking a first picture of an object when it isdetermined that the current moment reaches the preset shooting time;determining a difference between a first image in a preset area of thefirst picture and a second image in the preset area of a second picturetaken at a previous preset shooting time, the preset area correspondingto the object; and saving the first picture when the determineddifference is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value.

It shall be appreciated that the above general description and thedetailed description hereinafter are only illustrative but not forlimiting the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a flow chart of a photographing method, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a picture, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of a picture, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a photographing method, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a photographing method, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a photographing device, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a photographing device, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram fit for a photographing device, according toan exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The followingdescription refers to the accompanying drawings in which the samenumbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elementsunless otherwise represented. The implementations set forth in thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments do not represent allimplementations consistent with the invention. Instead, they are merelyexamples of apparatuses and methods consistent with aspects related tothe invention as recited in the appended claims.

FIG. 1A is a flow chart showing a photographing method 100, according toan exemplary embodiment. For example, the photographing method 100 maybe used in a terminal having a photographing function, such as a camera,a mobile phone, a tablet computer and the like. Referring to FIG. 1A,the photographing method 100 includes the following steps.

In step S101, the terminal monitors a current time and determines if thecurrent time reaches a preset shooting time. For example, the shootingtime may be preset by a user or by the terminal.

In step S102, the terminal takes a first picture when it is determinedthat the current time reaches the preset shooting time.

In step S103, the terminal determines a difference between a first imagein a preset area in the first picture and a second image in the presetarea in a second picture, the second picture being taken at a previouspreset shooting time.

For example, the preset area corresponds to a same object of interest,e.g., a flower in a blooming process. The area may be preset by a user,or automatically preset by the terminal after the terminal determineswhich area in a picture includes the object of interest based on apre-shooting analysis.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the first image and the second imagein the preset area are each a plant image, the terminal determines thedifference between the first image and the second image to include atleast one of: a difference value between a first ratio of an area of theplant image relative to an area of the first picture, and a second ratioof an area of the plant image relative to an area of the second picture;or a difference value between the area of the plant image in the firstpicture and the area of the plant image in the second picture. In thismanner, a variation of the plant image is determined by comparing thefirst and second ratios of the plant image relative to the first pictureand the second picture, or the shapes of the plant image in the firstpicture and the second picture.

In step S104, the terminal saves the first picture when the determineddifference is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value, e.g.,10%.

In one exemplary embodiment, the object photographed is a flower and,compared with the flower in the second picture taken at the previouspreset shooting time, the flower in the first picture taken at thecurrent shooting time increases in area by a preset threshold value 10%or more. Under this circumstance, it is regarded that a status of theflower has changed, and the first picture taken at the current shootingtime is saved. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the second picture,FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of the first picture, according to anexemplary embodiment. The first picture and the second picture bothinclude a flower image. By comparing the flower image in both the firstand second pictures, the terminal determines that the flower in thefirst picture increases by 12% in area compared to the flower in thesecond picture, which is greater than the preset threshold value 10%.Accordingly, the first picture is saved.

The photographing method 100 can be used to photograph potted plants,cityscape, natural scenery, astronomical phenomena, transportation andliving conditions, biological evolution, and scientific research, etc.

By using the photographing method 100, the terminal automatically takespictures, and saves suitable pictures for users for generating movingimages or synthesizing a video at a later time, thus meeting userdemands and saving user time.

In exemplary embodiments, when the difference determined at step S103 issmaller than the preset threshold value, the terminal does not save thefirst picture. For example, when the difference between the first imagein the first picture taken at the current shooting time and the secondimage in the second picture taken at the previous preset shooting timeis smaller than the preset threshold value, it indicates that the objectphotographed has an inconspicuous change or no change. Under thiscircumstance, the first picture does not need to be saved, thus not onlysaving memory space of the terminal, but also avoiding manually removingthe first picture by the user in a post production of moving images or asynthetic video.

In exemplary embodiments, prior to step S101, the method 100 alsoincludes setting the preset shooting time, which may be implemented asfollows.

In a first implementation, setting the preset shooting time isimplemented by receiving the shooting time inputted by the user, anddetermining the inputted shooting time as the preset shooting time. Forexample, if the user is familiar with changing characteristics of theobject to be photographed, the user may manually input one or moreshooting times, and the terminal automatically takes pictures of theobject at each of the one or more inputted shooting times. The firstimplementation is suitable for photographing objects whose statuschanges uniformly, for example, a solar eclipse or a lunar eclipse.

In a second implementation, setting the preset shooting time may beimplemented by identifying the object to be photographed and acquiringan identification result, the identification result including categoryinformation and/or a changing parameter relating to the object to bephotographed, and determining the preset shooting time according to theidentification result. For example, a database may be established inadvance, to store category information and changing parameters relatingto different objects. The terminal may first take a picture of theobject and identify the object by using an image recognition technology,such that at least one of the category information or the changingparameter relating to the object is determined according to data in thedatabase. For example, when the object is a flower, a flower species ora name of the flower may be identified by using the database, thusdetermining a blooming cycle of the flower. It is efficient to set oneor more preset shooting times according to the blooming cycle of theflower.

In a third implementation, setting the preset shooting time isimplemented by receiving a shooting time interval inputted by the user,and determining the preset shooting time according to the inputtedshooting time interval. For example, the user may manually input one ormore shooting time intervals, and take an initial picture of the object.The terminal automatically takes a picture of the object after each ofthe one or more shooting time intervals.

In one exemplary embodiment, each shooting time interval inputted may beequivalent or varied according to changing characteristics of the objectto be photographed and a shooting progress. For example, each shootingtime interval may be set equivalent when taking pictures of cloudchanges. Also for example, when taking pictures of an egg hatchingprocess, a longer shooting time interval may be set before an egghatches, and a shorter shooting time interval may be set during the egghatching. As another example, when taking pictures of a cell divisionprocess, different shooting time intervals may be set according tofeatures of cell division.

In a fourth implementation, setting the preset shooting time may beimplemented by acquiring at least two pictures sequentially taken priorto the current shooting time according to a first shooting timeinterval, and determining whether images in the preset area of the atleast two pictures are substantially the same. If those images aresubstantially the same, a second shooting time interval greater than thefirst shooting time interval is set, and the preset shooting time isdetermined according to the second shooting time interval. If thoseimages are not substantially the same, and a difference between two ofthose images in two adjacent pictures, corresponding to two adjacentpreset shooting times, is equal to or greater than a preset thresholdvalue, a third shooting time interval smaller than the first shootingtime interval is set, and the preset shooting time is determinedaccording to the third shooting time interval.

For example, when the images in the preset area of the at least twopictures sequentially taken are substantially the same, it indicatesthat the object does not have an obvious change and the current shootingtime interval is too short. Thus, a greater shooting time interval isset. Similarly, if the difference between two images in the preset areaof two adjacent pictures is equal to or greater than the presetthreshold value, it indicates that the object may have an obvious changeand the current shooting time interval is too long. Thus, a smallershooting time interval is set. For example, when the object to bephotographed is a flower, and if an area of the flower in two adjacentpictures taken at the first shooting time interval increases ordecreases in excess of the preset threshold value, e.g., 20%, itindicates that a change of the flower is obvious and the first timeinterval is set too long. Thus, the shooting time interval isappropriately shortened, and is set to the third shooting time intervalsmaller than the first shooting time interval.

In one exemplary embodiment, after step S104, the method 100 alsoincludes stopping photographing the object. For example, the terminalacquires the first picture and a next picture sequentially taken afterthe first picture, and determines a difference between the first imagein the preset area of the first picture and a third image in the presetarea of the next picture. The terminal stops photographing the object ifthere is no difference between the first image and the third image.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method 100 also includes stoppingphotographing the object according to a stop instruction inputted by theuser. For example, when the object photographed is a flower, picturescontinuously taken after flower withers are substantially the same,e.g., there is no area variation of the object in the images in thepreset area. Under this circumstance, for the convenience of the user,the terminal may stop photographing the object automatically, oraccording to the stop instruction inputted by the user.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method 100 also includes integrating,in accordance with the shooting sequence, saved pictures to generatemoving images. For example, it may need about 72 hours for a flower tobloom. When photographing is conducted according to preset shootingtimes set in any one of foregoing four implementations, a bloomingprocess is recorded in a sequence that includes, for example, 144 savedpictures. All of the 144 pictures can be displayed by a projector at afrequency of 24 pictures per second, thus forming moving images.

Moreover, saved pictures can be synthesized to a video by software witha function of synthesizing videos, such as Photoshop and the like, thusrecording the changing process of the object photographed.

In one exemplary embodiment, prior to step S102, the method 100 alsoincludes acquiring an environmental parameter; and adjusting aphotographing parameter according to the environmental parameter.Accordingly, step S102 includes taking the first picture according tothe adjusted photographing parameter when the current time reaches thepreset shooting time.

For example, environmental parameters include an indoor scene, anoutdoor scene, an illumination intensity, weather parameters, etc. Alsofor example, photographing parameters include an aperture value, ashutter speed, a light sensitivity, an exposure compensation value, awhite balance, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, photographing parameters may be adjustedaccording to variation of environmental parameters. For example, whenthe environmental parameters indicate that it is night, as photographingparameters for daytime are generally not suitable for night, thephotographing parameters are set according to the environmentalparameters to, e.g., aperture value F2.8, shutter speed 2s, lightsensitivity 3200, exposure compensation value +2, and white balanceAuto. Once reaching preset shooting times, pictures are taken and savedaccording to the adjusted photographing parameters to acquire clearerpictures.

The method 100 may automatically select to save or discard picturesaccording to a status change of the object photographed, thus avoidingthe user's manually removing undesired pictures in the post production.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a photographing method 200, according to anexemplary embodiment. For example, the method 200 is used in a terminal,such as a digital camera. In the illustrated embodiment, the shootingtime interval is set to 5 minutes, the preset threshold value for savingpictures (step S104 in FIG. 1) is set to 8%. For environmentalparameters, the indoor illumination intensity is assumed to be 100-700lx at daytime, and 0.1 lx at night. It is also assumed thatphotographing parameters at daytime are: aperture value F8, shutterspeed 1/400s, light sensitivity 800, exposure compensation value +1, andwhite balance sunlight. It is further assumed that photographingparameters at night are: aperture value F4.5, shutter speed 2s, lightsensitivity 3200, exposure compensation value +2, and white balanceincandescent lamp. Referring to FIG. 2, the method 200 includes thefollowing steps.

In step S201, the digital camera receives the shooting time intervalinputted by a user, and determines a preset shooting time according tothe shooting time interval and the time when the digital camera receivesthe inputted shooting time interval.

In step S202, the digital camera acquires one or more environmentalparameters, and executes step S203 when the acquired environmentalparameters indicate that daytime is changed to night.

In step S203, the digital camera adjusts, according to the acquiredenvironmental parameters, daytime photographing parameters to nightphotographing parameters.

In step S204, the digital camera takes a first picture according to theadjusted photographing parameters when a current time reaches the presetshooting time.

In step S205, the digital camera determines a difference between a firstimage in a preset area in a first picture and a second image in thepreset area in a second picture taken at a previous preset shootingtime.

In step S206, the digital camera saves the first picture when thedetermined difference is equal to or greater than the preset thresholdvalue.

In the illustrated embodiment, photographing parameters areautomatically adjusted based on environmental parameters, thus ensuringtaking satisfactory pictures and avoiding manually inputting parametersby the user.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a photographing method 300, according to anexemplary embodiment. For example, the method 300 is used in a terminal,such as a digital camera. In the illustrated embodiment, the presetthreshold value for saving pictures (step S104 in FIG. 1) is set to 10%.It is assumed that a user wants to take pictures of a blooming andfading process of an epiphyllum, which usually blooms at seven or eighto'clock at night and fades at eleven or twelve o'clock, lasting three tofour hours. Referring to FIG. 3, the method 300 includes the followingsteps.

In step S301, based on a database established in advance, the digitalcamera identifies an object to be photographed, acquires anidentification result, and determines one or more preset shooting timesaccording to the identification result. In the illustrated embodiment,the digital camera identifies the object to be an epiphyllum, anddetermines a time period for each of anthesis, florescence and fading,and a status change rate in the time period. For example, it isdetermined that anthesis lasts 10 minutes, and the status change of theflower is relatively fast. Accordingly, preset shooting times during theanthesis are set to shooting once every two seconds. Also for example,it is determined that florescence lasts 2.5 hours and the status changeof the flower is not obvious. Accordingly, preset shooting times duringthe florescence are set to shooting once every 10 minutes. Further forexample, it is determined that fading lasts 0.5 hour. Accordingly,preset shooting times during the fading are set to shooting once every 2minutes.

In step S302, the digital camera monitors a current time and determineswhether the current time reaches a preset shooting time.

In step S303, the digital camera takes a first picture of the epiphyllumwhen it is determined that the current time reaches the preset shootingtime.

In step S304, the digital camera determines if a difference between afirst image in a preset area in the first picture and a second image inthe preset area in a second picture taken at a previous preset shootingtime is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. In theillustrated embodiment, the difference between the first image and thesecond image may be a difference value between a first ratio of an areaof the epiphyllum image relative to an area of the first picture, and asecond ratio of an area of the epiphyllum image relative to an area ofthe second picture, or may be a difference value between the area of theepiphyllum image in the first picture and the area of the epiphyllumimage in the second picture.

In step S305, the digital camera saves the first picture when it isdetermined that the difference between the first image and the secondimage is equal to or greater than the preset threshold value.

In step S306, the digital camera discards the first picture by notsaving the first picture, when it is determined that the differencebetween the first image and the second image is smaller than the presetthreshold value.

In step S307, the digital camera takes two adjacent pictures, aftertaking the first picture, and determines that there is no obviousdifference between the epiphyllum images in the two adjacent pictures.Accordingly, the digital camera stops photographing the epiphyllum. Step307 may also be implemented as stopping photographing according to astop instruction inputted by the user.

In step S308, the digital camera integrates saved pictures in accordancewith the shooting sequence, to generate moving images.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a photographing device 400, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, the photographing device 400includes a monitoring module 401, a shooting module 402, a determinationmodule 403, and a saving module 404.

The monitoring module 401 is configured to monitor a current time anddetermines whether the current time reaches a preset shooting time. Theshooting module 402 is configured to take a first picture of an objectwhen it is determined that the current time reaches the preset shootingtime. The determination module 403 is configured to determine adifference between a first image in a preset area in the first pictureand a second image in the preset area in a second picture taken at aprevious preset shooting time, the preset area corresponding to theobject. The saving module 404 is configured to save the first picturewhen the difference is equal to or greater than a preset thresholdvalue.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a photographing device 500, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the photographing device 500includes a discarding module 405 and a setting module 406, in additionto the monitoring module 401, the shooting module 402, the determinationmodule 403, and the saving module 404 (FIG. 4).

The discarding module 405 is configured to discard the first picturewhen the difference between the first image and the second image issmaller than the preset threshold value. The setting module 406 isconfigured to set one or more preset shooting times using the abovedescribed methods.

In exemplary embodiments, the photographing device 500 further includesa stopping module 407 configured to, after the first picture is saved,stop photographing the object when it is determined that there is nodifference between two images in the preset area of two adjacentpictures, or when the stopping module 407 receives a stop instructioninputted by a user.

In exemplary embodiments, the photographing device 500 further includesan integration module 408 configured to integrate, in accordance withthe shooting sequence, saved pictures to generate moving images.

In exemplary embodiments, the photographing device 500 further includesan acquisition module 409 configured to acquire one or moreenvironmental parameters before the first picture is taken, and anadjustment module 410 configured to adjust one or more photographingparameters according to the environmental parameters. Accordingly, theshooting module 402 is configured to take the first picture of theobject according to the adjusted photographing parameters when it isdetermined that the current time reaches the preset shooting time.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a photographing device 600, according to anexemplary embodiment. For example, the device 600 may be a digitalcamera, a mobile telephone, a computer, a digital broadcasting terminal,a message transceiver device, a games console, a tablet device, amedical device, a fitness facility, a personal digital assistant (PDA)and the like.

Referring to FIG. 6, the device 600 may include one or more of thefollowing components: a processor component 602, a memory 604, a powersupply component 606, a multimedia component 608, an audio component610, an input/output (I/O) interface 612, a sensor component 614, and acommunication component 616.

The processor component 602 usually controls the overall operation ofthe device 600, for example, display, telephone call, datacommunication, and operation associated with camera operation and recordoperation. The processor component 602 may include one or a plurality ofprocessors 620 for executing instructions so as to complete steps of theabove methods in part or in whole. In addition, the processor component602 may include one or a plurality of modules for the convenience ofinteraction between the processor component 602 and other components.For example, the processor component 602 may include a multimedia modulefor the convenience of interaction between the multimedia component 608and the processor component 602.

The memory 604 is configured to store data of different types so as tosupport the operation of the device 600. Examples of the data includeany application program or approach directive for operation of thedevice 600, including contact data, phonebook data, message, picture andvideo, etc. The memory 604 may be realized by volatile or non-volatilememory device of any type or combination thereof, for example, staticrandom access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read only memory(EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM),magnetic memory, flash memory, magnetic disk or optical disk.

The power supply component 606 provides power for components of thedevice 600. The power supply component 606 may include a powermanagement system, one or a plurality of power supplies, and othercomponents associated with generation, management and power distributionof the device 600.

The multimedia component 608 includes a screen for providing an outputinterface. In some embodiments, the screen may include an Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD) and a touch panel (TP). If the screen includes a touchpanel, the screen may be realized as a touch screen for receiving inputsignal from users. The touch panel includes one or a plurality of touchsensors for sensing gestures on the touch panel, for example, touchingand sliding, etc. The touch sensor not only can sensor trip boundary oftouching or sliding, but also can detect the duration and pressurerelated to the touching or sliding operation. In some embodiments, themultimedia component 608 includes a front-facing camera and/or arear-facing camera. When the device 600 is under an operation mode, forexample, capture mode or video mode, the front-facing camera and/or therear-facing camera may receive external multimedia data. Eachfront-facing camera and rear-facing camera may be a fixed optical lenssystem or have focal length and optical zoom capacity.

The audio component 610 is configured to output and/or input audiosignals. For example, the audio component 610 includes a microphone.When the device 600 is under an operation mode such as call mode, recordmode and speech recognition mode, the microphone is configured toreceive external audio signals. The audio signals received may befurther stored in the memory 604 or sent out by the communicationcomponent 616. In some embodiments, the audio component 610 alsoincludes a loudspeaker for outputting audio signals.

The I/O interface 612 provides an interface for the processor component602 and peripheral interface modules, and the peripheral interfacemodules may be a keyboard, a click wheel and buttons, etc. These buttonsmay include but not limited to: a home button, a volume button, a startbutton and a locking button.

The sensor component 614 includes one or a plurality of sensors forproviding the device 600 with state evaluation from all aspects. Forexample, the sensor component 614 may detect the on/off state of thedevice 600, relative positioning of components, for example, the displayand keypad of the device 600. The sensor component 614 may also detectthe position change of the device 600 or a component thereof, thepresence or absence of users' touch on the device 600, the direction oracceleration/deceleration of the device 600, and temperature variationof the device 600. The sensor component 614 may also include a proximitydetector, which is configured to detect the presence of nearby objectsin case of no physical touch. The sensor component 614 may also includean optical sensor, for example, CMOS or CCD image sensor for imaging. Insome embodiments, the sensor component 614 may also include anacceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a magnetic sensor, a pressuresensor, or a temperature sensor.

The communication component 616 is configured to facilitate wiredcommunication or wireless communication between the device 600 and otherequipment. The device 600 is configured to access a wireless networkbased on communication standards, for example, WiFi, 2G or 3G, or acombination thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the communicationcomponent 616 receives a broadcast signal or broadcast-relatedinformation from external broadcast management systems. In one exemplaryembodiment, the communication component 616 also includes a near fieldcommunication (NFC) module for short-range communications. For example,the NFC module may be realized on the basis of Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) technology, Infrared Data Association (IrDA)technology, Ultra-wide Bandwidth (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT)technology and other technologies.

In exemplary embodiments, the device 600 may be realized by one or moreof an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), digital signal processing equipment (DSPD), aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA),a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or other electroniccomponents, configured to perform the above methods.

In exemplary embodiments, there is also provided a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium including instructions, such asincluded in the memory 604, executable by the processing component 602of the device 600, for performing the above described methods. Forexample, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be aread-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, amagnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, etc.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the abovedescribed modules can each be implemented by hardware, or software, or acombination of hardware and software. One of ordinary skill in the artwill also understand that multiple ones of the above described modulesmay be combined as one module, and each of the above described modulesmay be further divided into a plurality of sub-modules.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed here. This application is intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following the generalprinciples thereof and including such departures from the presentdisclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art. It isintended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplaryonly, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated bythe following claims.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to theexact construction that has been described above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changes can bemade without departing from the scope thereof. It is intended that thescope of the invention should only be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A photographing method for use in a device,comprising: monitoring a current time and determining whether thecurrent time reaches a preset shooting time; taking a first picture ofan object when it is determined that the current time reaches the presetshooting time; determining a difference between a first image in apreset area of the first picture and a second image in the preset areaof a second picture taken at a previous preset shooting time, the presetarea corresponding to the object; and saving the first picture if thedetermined difference is equal to or greater than a preset thresholdvalue.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: discarding thefirst picture if the determined difference is smaller than the presetthreshold value.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to themonitoring, the method further comprises: setting the preset shootingtime.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the setting of the presetshooting time comprises: receiving a shooting time inputted by a user;and determining the inputted shooting time as the preset shooting time.5. The method of claim 3, wherein the setting of the preset shootingtime comprises: identifying the object and acquiring an identificationresult, the identification result including at least one of categoryinformation or a changing parameter relating to the object; anddetermining the preset shooting time according to the identificationresult.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the setting of the presetshooting time comprises: receiving a shooting time interval inputted bya user; and determining the preset shooting time based on the inputtedshooting time interval.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the presetthreshold value is a first preset threshold value, and the setting ofthe preset shooting time comprises: taking at least two pictures of theobject sequentially according to a first shooting time interval;determining whether images in the preset area of the at least twopictures are substantially the same; setting a second shooting timeinterval greater than the first shooting time interval if it isdetermined that the images in the preset area are the same, anddetermining the preset shooting time according to the second shootingtime interval; and setting a third shooting time interval smaller thanthe first shooting time interval if it is determined that a differencebetween the images in the preset area of two adjacent pictures of the atleast two pictures is equal to or greater than a second preset thresholdvalue, and determining the preset shooting time according to the thirdshooting time interval.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein whenthe preset area corresponds to a plant, the determining of thedifference comprises at least one of: determining a difference valuebetween a first ratio of an area of the first image relative to an areaof the first picture, and a second ratio of an area of the second imagerelative to an area of the second picture; or determining a differencevalue between the area of the first image in the first picture and thearea of the second image in the second picture.
 9. The method of claim1, further comprising: taking a next picture of the object at a nextpreset shooting time next to the current preset shooting time, the firstpicture and the next picture being adjacent pictures; determining ifthere is a difference between a next image in the preset area of thenext picture and the first image in the preset area of the firstpicture; and stopping photographing the object when it is determinedthat there is no difference.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: integrating, in accordance with a shooting sequence, aplurality of saved pictures to generate moving images.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein before the taking of the first picture,the method further comprises: acquiring an environmental parameter; andadjusting a photographing parameter according to the environmentalparameter; and wherein the taking of the first picture comprises: takingthe first picture according to the adjusted photographing parameter whenit is determined that the current time reaches the preset shooting time.12. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storinginstructions executable by the processor; wherein the processor isconfigured to: monitor a current time and determine whether the currenttime reaches a preset shooting time; take a first picture of an objectwhen it is determined that the current time reaches the preset shootingtime; determine a difference between a first image in a preset area ofthe first picture and a second image in the preset area of a secondpicture taken at a previous preset shooting time, the preset areacorresponding to the object; and save the first picture if thedetermined difference is equal to or greater than a preset thresholdvalue.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: discard the first picture if the determined difference issmaller than the preset threshold value.
 14. The device of claim 12,wherein the processor is further configured to: set the preset shootingtime.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: receive a shooting time inputted by a user; and determinethe inputted shooting time as the preset shooting time.
 16. The deviceof claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to: identifythe object and acquire an identification result, the identificationresult including at least one of category information or a changingparameter relating to the object; and determine the preset shooting timeaccording to the identification result.
 17. The device of claim 14,wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a shooting timeinterval inputted by a user; and determine the preset shooting timebased on the inputted shooting time interval.
 18. The device of claim14, wherein the preset threshold value is a first preset thresholdvalue, and the processor is further configured to: take at least twopictures of the object sequentially according to a first shooting timeinterval; determine whether images in the preset area of the at leasttwo pictures are substantially the same; set a second shooting timeinterval greater than the first shooting time interval if it isdetermined that the images in the preset area are the same, anddetermine the preset shooting time according to the second shooting timeinterval; and set a third shooting time interval smaller than the firstshooting time interval if it is determined that a difference between theimages in the preset area of two adjacent pictures of the at least twopictures is equal to or greater than a second preset threshold value,and determine the preset shooting time according to the third shootingtime interval.
 19. The device of claim 12, wherein when the preset areacorresponds to a plant, the processor is further configured to performat least one of: determining a difference value between a first ratio ofan area of the first image relative to an area of the first picture, anda second ratio of an area of the second image relative to an area of thesecond picture; or determining a difference value between the area ofthe first image in the first picture and the area of the second image inthe second picture.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium having stored therein instructions that, when executed by aprocessor of a device, cause the device to perform a photographingmethod, the method comprising: monitoring a current time and determiningif the current time reaches a preset shooting time; taking a firstpicture of an object when it is determined that the current momentreaches the preset shooting time; determining a difference between afirst image in a preset area of the first picture and a second image inthe preset area of a second picture taken at a previous preset shootingtime, the preset area corresponding to the object; and saving the firstpicture when the determined difference is equal to or greater than apreset threshold value.